Big Brother

It was a dark and gloomy day in the Pridelands. Rain was pouring down relentlessly, and there wasn't an animal in sight of Pride Rock.

Simba, the King, was pacing worriedly outside of the lion's den inside the rock. His mate, Nala slowly walked towards him, their cub Kiara waiting at the entrance of the cave.

"Simba" Nala spoke softly, "He'll come back. He is probably just taking shelter from the rain. He'll be fine"

Simba looked over to Nala

"I don't know that. What if he's hurt?"

"Simba please. He'll be fine. You're scaring Kiara"

Simba glanced to the cave entrance and met the gaze of his daughter, whom had tears welling up in her eyes. Simba stopped his movements and leaned towards his wife, nuzzling her gently before walking to the cave entrance.

Kiara bounced out, immediately cheered up, and smiled widely at her father

"Daddy!" she exclaimed, rushing under his larger body to stay wet.

Simba said nothing, instead letting a purr rumble through his body. Kiara leaned up and gently nuzzled his chest, walking out from under him when they were inside the cave. All three lions shook their fur, water droplets flinging crazily in random directions. Kiara lead the way to where they slept, and waited eagerly for her parents. When they arrived they all curled up together.

Soon enough Kiara and Nala were asleep. Simba sighed, shifting so his head was on his paws, staring out of the cave entrance.

"Oh Kopa" he barely breathed "Where are you?"

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Vitani giggled delightedly as she pounced around in the rain. The lions in the Outlands were much more welcoming to the water, and were all enjoying it. Her brothers, Kovu and Nuka pounced towards her, and the three cubs became a tumbling mass of fur as they rolled down a hill. When they stopped, Vitani poked her head out and looked around curiously, her ears pricked up

"I wonder where mother is" she murmured

Kovu forced his way out of the bundle and shrugged his furry shoulders

"I have no idea"

"She said she would return soon" Nuka paused "Maybe soon is longer for her, than it is for us"

"Do you think she is hurt?"

"Mother knows how to take care of herself. She's fine"

Vitani looked up the small, muddy hill they had tumbled down

"We need to climb back up there"

Almost as soon as the words left her mouth the three cubs began scrambling up the hill. Kovu was first, followed by Vitani and then Nuka. Vitani leapt at Kovu, tackling him to the ground. Kovu immediately flipped her off of him and lunged, only for her to leap out of the way. Nuka ran alongside, watching the siblings tussle with an amused grin on his face.

Finally Vitani flipped Kovu over and pinned him, smiling triumphantly.

"Ha. Pinned ya" She beamed

"Get off of me" Kovu complained, rolling out from under his sisters paw.

All three cubs immediately looked up when they heard paw steps. Nuka stood, while Vitani and Kovu remained motionless. Eventually a figure became clear through the thick and heavy rain.

"Mother?" Kovu and Nuka called

Vitani narrowed her eyes curiously. As if she had been shot at she jerked backwards, crashing into Nuka. The lion said nothing, and Vitani scrunched back closer to him. Eventually the other two lions figured out why she had scrunched back; there was something in their mother's mouth. Something that looked like a body.

Finally their mother was close enough to identify her features, and the features of the bloody mass hanging from her jaws.

Neither lion moved, trying to figure out what the lioness had dropped. It was Vitani who realized first, and her heart skipped a beat.

"Kopa!" Vitani whimpered, scrunching into the warm body of Kovu, whom was now pressed beside her.

"Nuka... Get Simba" Kovu muttered

Nuka didn't need to be told twice and turned on his paws, pushing himself as fast as he could go.

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Simba's had shot up when he heard heavy paw steps outside of the cave entrance.

"Simba?!" A voice called

Simba recognized the voice as Nuka, and leapt to his feet, waking Nala and Kiara in the process. He rushed out of the cave, the two females following. Slowly the other lions woke and hurried over, wondering what all of the commotion was about.

The subs all stayed inside, though. Well, all except for Kiara.

"Nuka" Simba stated as he spotted the lion approaching him "Why have you come here"

Nuka gulped

"S-Simba it's Kopa" was all he had to say

Simba's eyes flew open in shock

"Take me to him"

Nuka nodded and turned, leading the mass of lions away. Kiara stayed on the rock for a brief moment, her heart pounding in her chest before she took off as fast as she could after the group of lions that were searching for her brother.

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Kovu and Vitani were silent as Zira sat in silence, the body hanging from her jaws. Finally the lioness stepped forward and dropped the body by the two cub's paws before turning and slowly walking away, sitting with her back to them a few meters away.

Vitani immediately leaned forward and pressed her nose into Kopa's fur. She kept it there, her entire body going weak with relief when she determined that he was still alive.

"Kopa?" she whispered weakly

Said cub opened his mouth, a few gurgles escaping him with a small amount of blood before his voice reached her ears

"Vitani"

His eyes were shut and she gently leaned forward, licking the blood away from them. Kovu slid forward and joined her in said task, worried for the cub laying sprawled out in the mud before them.

When they finished Kopa slowly opened his eyes, first meeting Vitani's blue eyed gaze, then meeting Kovu's green eyed stare.  

"Kovu" he stated, another cough escaping him

Kovu nodded, not trusting himself to speak for fear his voice would crack

"You're going to be okay" Vitani rasped, moving to his neck to lick away the blood "I promise"

Despite his condition a weak laugh escaped Kopa

"We all know that-" he broke off to suck in a weak and jagged breath "Isn't true"

"But it is" she insisted, shooting a quick glance at Kovu as the other cub began licking the blood off the top of his friend's head.

"You'll be fine, Kopa. You're just a little winded, is all. Rafiki will come, and he'll fix you up"

He could tell by the look in the cub's red eyes that Kopa truly wanted to believe them. Kovu continued his self appointed job, unable to speak anymore.

"Your father and mother are here" Vitani stated

"Don't leave me" Kopa's eyes were pleading, his voice weak.

Both of the Outland cubs nodded and Vitani laid down in front of the injured cub, pressing comfortingly against him while still licking his fur clean. Kovu settled by his head, placing one of his paws under the cub's head as a makeshift pillow as he continued his job.

Neither looked up as Simba and Nala came skidding into the clearing, mud turning their pelts an ugly brown.

"Kopa!" both breathed, moving towards him

The weak cub coughed, forcing a smile

"Hi mom and dad"

Nala leaned down, nuzzling her nose into his now clean neck

"Oh, my poor baby" she rasped

Rafiki slowly approached and nobody could watch as he checked the young cub over. When he finished everyone looked to him, and the baboon slowly shook his head.

"I am sorry" he stated lamely before backing away

Simba dropped to the ground, moving forward and pressing his face against his son's small body.

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Kiara stumbled across the muddy ground, slowly loosing sight of all of the paw prints because of the heavy rain. However, not one to be deterred, the young cub pushed herself harder and climbed over the hillside, her gaze falling upon a group of lions all crouched around one thing.

The one thing she knew to be her brother.

"Kopa!" she cried out, and almost every head turned to face her as she struggled through the mud. She finally reached her brother and dropped down beside him, moving forward to nuzzled her head into the soft fur of his neck.

"Hi Kiara" he greeted weakly

"Kopa what happened?" she asked curiously "Are you okay?"

"N-No Kiara. I'm not okay"

"Well when will you be okay?" the cub squeaked "I have this awesome new place to show you and-"

"Kiara... I'm not going to get better"

"You're not?"

"No"

Coughs wracked through Kopa's body, and Kiara squeaked in terror, snuggling closer

"So you're going to go to the sky?" Kopa forced himself to nod "B-But you're my brother, you can't leave me"

Nala shut her eyes tighter and leaned closer to Simba, a soft sob escaping her throat.

"I know... I'm sorry" Kopa whispered "But I'll always be with you. And soon, when mom and dad let you, you can show me that new spot"

"But you'll be gone" Kiara whimpered

"I may not be here in the living fur, but I'll always be with you, Kiara" he promised "You'll always be my sister, and no matter what happens, I will always protect you"

Kiara squeezed her eyes shut and pressed even closer, licking his fur gently

"I love you"

"I love you too, Kiara" he rasped

Vitani shifted so she was closer to Kiara and gently licked the other female's ear, and Kiara moved a bit closer to her.

Everyone was silent, and after what felt like only moments Kopa gave on last shuddering breath. A choked sob escaped Kiara and she pressed closer to her brother, desperately hoping to hear his voice, or feel him purr.

Nala let a sob escaped her and placed her paw on her son's side

"Oh my baby" she choked out, burying her face in his fur

Simba, however, whirled around and faced Zira, whom was now facing their direction, her face a mask of passive annoyance.

"You" he snarled "What have you done?!"